No fewer than 265 people have died this year in a meningitis epidemic in Niger Republic, amid a shortage of vaccines needed to prevent the disease's spread.
The Minister of Health, Mano Aghali, on Wednesday, said the country is scrambling to overcome vaccine shortage.
Aghali, who told newsmen in Maradi that infections were increasing rapidly, however, added that the vaccines were inadequate to contain the spread.
He said, “Niger is in possession of only half of the vaccines needed to control the outbreak in the West African nation of roughly 18 million people.
“More than 3,600 people are currently infected with the virus, which causes acute inflammation of the membranes protecting the brain and the spinal cord.
“The number almost tripled in the past 10 days.’’
The Ministry of Health had earlier reported 129 deaths and 1,150 infections.
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